Transmission shifting lever



Mmh 1e 1926. 1,577,011

. W. CARTER TRANSMISSION SHIFTING LEVER Original Filed April 22, 1924 INVENTOR.

l atented Mar. 16', 1923.

* outrun stares PATENT oFFicE.

W'ALKER CARTER, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

TRANSMISSION -SHIFTING LEVER.

Application filed April 22', 1924, Serial No. 708,265. Renewed September 17, 1925.

2' "0 Ha al/ 1.0726 2'25 may, concern: 7 o

Be 1t known that I, l VALKER CARTER, a citizen of the Unlted States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transmission Shifting Levers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in transmission shifting levers and more particularly to a device of thischaracter adapted to be locked in inoperative position and thereby prevent unauthorized use of the vehicle.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which requires no changes whatever in the construction of the transmission and which will be neat in appearance andwhich may be readily operated.

A further object of the invention 15 to provide a device of this character in which a simple upward pull upon the knob of the operating lever places the operating lever 1n inoperative position and automatically locks the same therein.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein V Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a gear shifting lever constructed in accordance with my invention; V

FigureQ is an enlarged sectional view showing the lock construction and the release action effected, the parts being shown in a position releasing the operating section of the rod for movement downwardly to operative position;

Figure 3 is a similar view, the parts being shown in the position in which the operating section is locked against downward movement.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the usual transmission casing having therein the usual gearing (not disclosed) and shifting rod or rods 11 by means of which the gears are shifted to vary the speeds of the transmission. These rods, in the usual construction thereof, are provided with a socket 12 for the reception of the end of the shifting lever. The transmission casing, above these rods, is provided with a ball socket 13 in which the end of the lever rests.

In accordance with my invention, this lever is formed in two telescopic-ally engaged sections, an outer tubular section 14.

and an inner rod or shiftable section 15. The tubular section is provided at itslower end with a ball forengagemen't in the socket and ilrthis bal'l the lower end of the rod 15 has its hearing as indicated at 16. Adjacent lts upper end the tube 14, which preferably tapers upwardly, is provided with a pair of spaced plates 17 which are secured to the walls of the tube within the tube and are formed with bearings 18 for guiding the upper end of the rod. The rod is preferably both rotatable and longitudinally shiftable through these hearings but must in most instances be made longitudinally shiftable therethrough. Between the. plates 17, the rod is provided with a stop 19 which by its engagement with the plates 17 limits the longitudinal shifting movement of the rod. lVhen the stop 19 of the rod is in engage ment with the lower plate 17, the end of the rod is sufficiently depressed to engage in the socket of the socket casting 12, so that these castings and accordingly the rods 11 may be shifted thereby. When elevated the rod clears these sockets so that any shifting of the lever will not result in shifting of the rods-ll.

Within the tube at the larger portion thereof and preferably immediately adjacent the lower end thereof is arranged a hinged leaf 2O movement of which is'limited when the leaf is horizontal by a stop 21. A spring 22 normally urges this leaf into engagement with the stop and the leaf may be shifted upwardly at its free end and accordingly movedvout of engagement with the stop by a cam 23 carried by the rotating part of a barrel lock 24 of any suitable le scription. The rod is provided with an enlargement 25 forming a downwardly facing shoulder 9-6 which, when engaged with the upper surface of the leaf 20, maintains the rod in elevated position so that it cannot engage in the sockets of the castings 12. This shoulder preferably extends entirely about the rod so that the rod may be rotated without this engaging shoulder. By elevating the rod and then operating the key of the barrel lock, the leaf may be swung out oi position so that the rod ma be dropped for engagement in the socket to shift a selected rod 11. The upper end of the rod has preferably applied thereto a suitable cap for engagement by the hand.

It is pointed out with a construction of this character not only is the machine safeguarded against unauthorized operation but; likewise operation of the gear shiftis facilitated tor the reason that since the rod may turn in the hand, such changes in the angle oi the red, as are necessary during shifting of the gears, ma be accomplished without the necessity of the hand moving about upon the upper end of the red, the rotation ot the rod permitting the rod to remain stationary in the hand while these changes of angle are effected. Since the construction hereinbetore set torth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without matcriall departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:--

In a transmission shitting lever and in combination, an outer lever section mounted for oscillation upon the transn'lission casing, a second section longitudinally shittable through the first named section between certain limits and when at one limit of its movement engageable in the sockets ot the shifting lugs of the transmission, and means mounted within the first named section and operatirely engaging the second named seetion permitting eievation of the second named section but preventing return more lucnt thereof after such elevation, comprising a hinged lea't carried by the first named section and nori'nally maintained in horizontal position therein, the second section being provided with an enlargement torun in a downwardly facing shoulder, said leal. swinging ul'nvardly to permit pas age ot s12 id enlargement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto a ii): my signature.

WALKER- CARTER. 

